Marine Corps Marathon sells out–in just over 2 hours

Registration for the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon opened today, but if you don’t have your confirmation sheet by now, you’re probably going to have to wait until next year.

The extremely popular and elite race sold out at 2:27p.m., according to organizers–just two-and-a-half hours after it opened. That beats last year’s rush, when registration stayed open for 2 hours, 41 minutes. The race is capped at 30,000 participants, including those lucky enough to jockey for a spot during the narrow online registration window, and those who completed the 17.75K (distance an homage to the year the Corps was founded) qualifier race on March 23.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sara A. Medina/ Marine Corps

The Oct. 27 race begins in Arlington, Va., takes the scenic route through Washington, D.C., and culminates in an uphill climb to an emotional finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial just outside Arlington Cemetery. That part of the race has been unchanged since it was first run in 1976.

Why is this race so popular? For one, anyone 14 years and older can register, making it an egalitarian race in the world of marathons.